Husking-machine.



PATENTED OCT. 30, 1906. I. J. BALL.

HUSKING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY31, 1905. RENEWED SEPT. 24. 1906.

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L! No. 834,247. PATENTED OCT. 30, 1906. I. J. BALL.

HUSKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 31, 1905. RENEWED SEPT. 24. 1906.

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No. 834,247. PATENTED 00130, 1906.

I. J. BALLQ v HUSKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 31, 1905. nmmwzzn 52M. 24. 1906.

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TH: mmms PErzRS ca, WASHINGTON, uv r,

UNITED STATES PATE T OFFICE.

IRVING J. BALL, OF BROGK, NEBRASKA.

HUSKlNG-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. .30. 1906.

Original application filed October 15, 1904, Serial No. 228,540. Dividedand this application filed May 31, 1905. Renewed September 24,1906-Serial No. 336,962.

To all whom it may concern:

Be' it known that I, IRVING J. BALL,-a citizen of the United States,residing at Brock,

in thecounty of Nemaha and State of Nebraska, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Husking-Machines, of which the following is aspecification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This case is a division of my patent or copending application, SerialNo. 228,540.

, The object of the present invention is the provision of ahusking-machine wherein the peculiar manipulation of the ears in thedifferent steps of the operation of the machine resembles, as near asossible, the more usual hand method of hus ing, so that the complete orclean husking of the ears is practically assured.

- proach or rest upon the ground, means for spection of the same inconnection with the following detailed description the novelcharacteristics of the machine will be apparent.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of the machine.Fig. 2 is a bot: tom .view. Fig. 3 is a rear elevation. Fig. 4 is adetail perspective view of the means for separating the ears from thestalks, and Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the spring and frame holdingthe roll T.

R ferring more specifically to the drawings, wherein like referencecharacters refer to. corresponding parts in the several views, Adesignates the frame of the machine, the same having a slight forwardpitch for a purpose [to .be hereinafter noted, the forward part of themachine being provided with traction-wheels v(not shown) and astalkbender E, designed to bend the stalks over in the path ofthemachine without separatingthem from the ground, whereby the ears may bequickly and easily removed therefrom, it being unnecessary to furtherrefer to these A convenient embodiment of the invention comprises meansfor causing the stalk to apfeatures of the machine inasmuch as they arefully set forth in my application above noted and the details of whichare not to be claimed herein. i 0 represents caster-wheels for su or therear portion of the machine. pp tmg As the stalks are laid down andstraight ened longitudinally of themachine by the bender E they areguided to either one of three ways K beneath the main portion of themachine, formed partially by flanges k on a transversely-disposed plateis" partially by s de platesL on the frame A, and partially bycircumferential ribs or flanges M on a rotatable carrler N, it beingobserved that the side platesL extend alongside both the rotary carrierand the outer edges of the plate k, and also that the flanges k are inlongitudinal alinement with the circumferential ribs or flanges M. Bythis arrangement three distinct continuous ways K are provided andcontinually maintained without interfering with the rotary movement ofthe carrier N it being understood that any desired number of waysgreater or less. than three may be provlded in keeping with theprinciple involved to adapt the machine to any particular use orcapacity. 1

Arranged so that the spaces between the same may properly register withthe ways K are a series of guide-fingers O, the same being Y pointed andadjustably secured in place in the following manner:

P is a beam fixedly secured across the lower rear end of the machine andprovided on its outer face with ribs p, designed to enter complementaryrooves p in the upper face of each guidenger O. This permits the properadjustment of the fingers, and to lock the beam and teeth together boltspass through slots 12 in the fingers and apertures ln the beam, thethreaded ends of the bolts being engaged by nuts p These bolts and nutsserve the additional function of fastening 1n place the upper endsof'verticallydisposed knife-blades Q, said upper ends thereof beingindicated at g and slotted, as at q, for the reception of the headedends 9 of V the bolts p. knife-blades are seated Within depressions orfingers O, the walls of the depressions preventing lateral play of theblades relative to the fingers and rivets or pins 0 passing through theblades and perforated ears 0 on The lower back edge of these 1 IOrecesses 0 1n the upper surface of the guide- 5 the finger, serving tofasten the lower ends of said blades in their respective recesses orseats.

Near the upper ends of the blades Q and arranged transversely thereto Isecure a cutter-bar R rigidly with the forward face of the beam P, theeffective or operating portions of the cutter-bar being intermediate theguide-fingers and across the space therebetween.

As the stalks pass through the ways K their attached or lower ends firstenter the spaces between the guide-fingers, and as the machine movesforward are drawn therethrough, whereby the ears are caught between thefingers and guided by the diverging Walls thereof to the cutter-bar R,which cuts the same from its butt and stalk, when the detached ear is inposition for the succeeding manipulation, as will presently appear.

The purpose of the knife-blades Q is principally to cut up andlessen-the hindrance offered to the progressive movement of the machineby foreign matter or stalks disposed across the path of movement of saidblades and transversely of the line of travel of the machine; also, tokeep the ears straight as they are cut from the stalks.

It is to be noted that as the machine travels in a forward direction andthe ears are engaged by the guide-fingers O the separation of said earsfrom their stalks is strongly resisted by reason of the stalks holdingfast to the ground, so that when the ears are cut from the stalks by thecutter-bar R they project forwardly at substantially right angles to thecutter-bar in position to have their pointed ends caught by some of theteeth a, disposed around the periphery of the rotary carrier N. Thiseffects a reversal of the separated ears endwise, whereby they arecarried through the machine point first.

The first husking operation may now be described. The ears being carriedin an upward direction by the carrier N toward the toothed roller S, thesame are engaged by said toothed roller S, rotating in the direction ofthe arrow, whereby the ears are elevated or pushed upwardly into thespace between rotary husking devices T and the carrier N. Thispushing-roll has, several flanges s in line with the flanges M on thecarrier N, whereby the proper alinement of the ears is maintained. Onerotary husking device T is disposed directly opposite to each spacebetween the peripheral flanges of the rotary carrier and they areindependently supported and also independently actuated. The peculiarcharacter of the teeth t of the husker is'perhaps best shown as beingformed upon an arc conforming as near as possible to the averagecurvature of one side or half of an ear, whereby the husks on the sideor half of the ear presented to the teeth of the husking device will befirmly grasped thereby and torn from the ear as the carrier rotates awayfrom the same, the husking devices of course rotating in an oppositedirection.

The husking devices T are, as previously stated, yieldably supported,whereby they may automatically approach closer to or recede from therotary carrier to accommodate ears of different thickness, the initialadjustment of the parts being of course for the smaller-sized ears. Theyieldable bearings comprise a main supporting-plate U, secured to theframe A of the machine and carrying a series of rearwardly-disposedtubular sleeves or guide-arms a, one for each husking device, withinwhich slidable bearing-boxes a for said husking devices Work back andforth. These boxes are guided in their movement by lugs u, fitting theslots in the sleeve. The movement of the bearing-boxes in a rearwarddirection is resisted by springs a, hearing at one end against the boxesand at their opposite end against an adjustable plug or screw 1/threaded into the open end of the sleeves, and through the medium ofwhich the-tension of the springs is regulated. u are stems on thebearing-boxes guided by longitudinally-disposed apertures a in the plugsof. a are hard-rubber bumpers.

The husking devices are driven by means of sprocket-chains V, operatedfrom ears 1) on a common drive-shaft v and engaging thecentrally-disposed gears 12 of the husking devices. As shown, thehuskers are corrugated longitudinally. Its bearing-boxes are preferablysteel brass-lined.

It may happen that some of the ears separated from the stalks are tooshort to be engaged by the teeth n of the rotary carrier N, and in thisevent such short ears are simply pushed upwardly by the succeeding earsand forwardly by inclined guides W, arranged immediately above thecutter-bar until the same are caught by the teeth a or the teeth of thepusher-roller S. Teeth 10 at the upper edges of the guides W serve toprevent the short ears escaping rearwardly thereover and also constitutecleaners for the pusher-roller.

The ears having now been stripped of the husks on one side thereof arecarried upwardly and around the top of the machine by the rotary carrierN until they approach the husking instrumentalities for the oppositeside of the ears mounted at the forward end of the main portion of themachine and which will now be described, said ears having in themeantime been held in place upon the teeth of the carrier byfreely-mounted gravity pressure-rolls X, the shafts 9c of which work inslots m in arched side members :I: of the frame of the machine.

Y designates a husking device mounted relatively close to the rotarycarrier N and fixed against bodily movement relative thereto to preventthe ears on the carrier passing IIO eral set ofteeth on therotarycarrier.

sti

tiiatatan. This haskmg deaa extends entirely across the machine and "isprovided with 'properlyeseparated husking teeth y of the s ame generalcha racter as the teeth 25 of the devices T, hereinbefore described. Thehusking device Y rotates in the direction of the arrow inopposition toa'rot'ary'feeding and pressing device Z, rotating in a contrarydirection, one arranged opposite each periph- The yieldable bearings forthe. feeding and pressmg device'sare represented at z and the com monsupporting-plate therefor at 2, it' being unnecessary to gofurther intothe detail of these as. they are the same in structure asthecorresponding elements hereinbefore .defined in connection with thehusking devices T. As the carrier approaches that part of the machinelast referred to the centrifugal force incident to the rapid movement ofthe carrier will cause a separation of the ears therefrom,

I and said ears coming in contact with the foremostroller X will beguided thereby to the feeding and pressing devices Z, the headed pins 2of which will grab the earsand force them between the same and thehusking device Y, the result being that the under. or unhusked half orside of theears will be presented tothetteeth of the husking device Yand stripped from the ears thereby. The removed husks are carried aroundby the device Y. and falling upon the'inclined teeth andplatedesignated, respectively, at 2 and.

3 aredelivered to a chute 4,.inclining outwardly and downwardly towardboth sides of the machine, whereby the husks are con ducted to theground. The chute is mounted upon the stalk-bender E, so that thevibration of the latter incident to its enga ement with the ground :willshake the hus s and cause a proper feed thereof through said chute toeither the one or the other 'side of the machine.

tending upwardly-inclined endless elevator 6, adapted to carry the corn-to' the desired purpose.

pointof deposit. 7 i

Any convenient means maybe employed to effect the desired rotation ofthe carrier N, a chain 9', engaging a sprocket 10 on the shaft of thecarrier, being shown for that The chain 9 of course communicates withsome su it able source of power, preferably the traction-wheels. Asimilar chain 1.4, engaging a sprocket l5 and a sprocket 16, imparts theproper movement to the driveshaft 1) for the husking devices T. At theopposite end of the shaft 8 I provide another sprocket 17, operatingthrough the medium of a chain 18, rigid with shaft 11 and, adjoiningsprocket 14 and sprocket 19, to rotate the husking device Y, saidhusking husking means. I

4. In a machme of the character described 1 device in turn effectmg'theoperation of the feeding and pressing devices Z by means'of chain 20,running from the husking device'to a drive-shaft 21, mounted at theforward upper end of the frame A, and a chain 22, run-- ning from said,shaft to the shaft of each of a the feeding and pressing devices Z,suitable sprockets being provided for this purpose.

Any convenient means may be'utilized in operating the endless elevator yA The rotary carrier hereinbeforereferred to is shown as hexagonal, theflat surfaces, of which permit the corn carried thereby to'li'e flatthereon; but it is obvious that any shaped carrier foundpractical-forinstance, one having a greater or less number of sidesi'naybe. substituted for that shown.

The forward pitch or inclination of the frame of the machine enables theproper mounting and disposition of the parts, while greatly decreasingthe size and number-of the parts of the same which would otherwise berequired. It also enables'thecornto be continually carried forwardlyafterlefavi'ng the initial husking devices and to shootforfore observedis the disposition 'of'theteeth inon the periphery .of the'rotarycarrierN- It will be seenthat these teeth are arranged in pairs, theteeth of each pair being so'separated that they will not engage thecenter or thickest portion of the ears, but rather at points a little tothesides 'of the longitudinal center, which willgive a firm hold on thehusks and enable their ready removal without otherwise damaging thecorn.

It is to be understood that the invention. is susceptible of otherembodiments than that disclosed herein. r

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, anddesired-to be secured by Letters Patent, is I a 1. In combination withhusking instrumentalities, means for feeding ears thereto including acarrier and a cooperating pusher arranged below the huskinginstrumentalities and a cleaner for said pusher.

2. In combination with husking instrumentahties, means for feeding earsthereto,

including a carrier and cooperating pusherroll arranged below thehusking instrumentalities, and a cleaner for said pusher-roll.

3. A husking-machine provided with means for husking'one side of an earand other means for subsequently hus'king the opposite side thereof, incombination with means for presenting the ears endwise to the a rotarycarrier, husking means operatively associated therewith, and otherhusking from-the opposite sides of theears, and

means also operatively associated therewith, said means operating insequence to remove different portions of the nusks of an ear, incombination with means for presenting the ears endwise to the huskingmeans.

5. In combination with a series of huskin g devices, a single carrierfor endwise presenting different portions of the ears thereto.

6. In combination with a series of husking devices, a single rotarycarrier for the ears arranged to endwise present the outer side of theears to one of the husking devices and the otherside thereof to theother husking device. A

j 7. In a machine of the character described, means for nusking one sideof the ears, other means for subsequently husking the opposite sidethereof, and means whereby the cleaned ears and husks are separated andconducted away from-the machine in com bination with means forpresenting the ears endwise to the husking means.

8. In combination with a rotaly carrier, husking instrumentalities, andmeans for pushing-the ears upwardly toward the huskinginstrumentalities, said husking instru- -mentalities being arrangedabove said pushing means.

9.. In'combination with a rotary carrier, husking instrumentalities, andpusher-I 011 for forcing the ears upwardly toward the huskinginstrumentalities, said husking instrumentalities being arranged abovesaid pusher-roll.

I 10. In a machine of the character described, a rotary carrier, meansfor presenting the ears point first to the carrier, in combination withseparated husking instrumentalities operating in sequence to remove thehusks from the opposite side. of the ears.

11. In, a machine of the character described, a rotary carrier, meansfor'presenting the ears point first to the carrier, in combination withseparated husking' instrumentalities for successively removing the husksmeans for pushing the ears upwardly toward the initialhusking devices.-

12. In a machine of the character de scribed, a carrier, huskinginstrumentalities, and means therebeneath in addition to the carrier forelevating the ears into operative relation thereto.- 1

13. Irr'a machine of, the 3 character described, a carrier, huskinginstrumentalities, and a rotary pusher therebeneath in addition tothecarrier for'forcing the cars into operative relation therewith. Y

14. In a machine of the character. dcsonbed, a rotary carrier, huskmginstrumentalities in rear thereof, other husking instrumentalities infront of the carrier, and asupporting-framework for the several partshav- .ing a pitch or inclination in a forward direction.

15. In a machine of the character described, a carrier, a husking deviceoperating in conjunction with the carrier to remove the husks, and ayieldable bearing for said husking device acting to force the sametoward the carrier.

16. In a machine of the character described, a carrier, a husking deviceoperating in conjunction with the carrier to remove the husks, and ayieldable bearing for said husking device acting to force the sametoward the carrier comprising a bearing-box, a sleeve within which thebox slides, an ad justable plug at the outer end of the sleeve, and aspring interposed between said adjustable plug and the bearing-box andconfined within the sleeve.

17. In a machine of the character described, a carrier, a husking deviceoperating in conjunction with the carrier to remove the husks, and ayieldable bearing for said husking device acting to force the sametoward the carrier comprising a bearing-box, a sleeve within which thebox slides, an abutment at the outer end of the sleeve, and a springinterposed between said abutment and the bearing-box and confined withinthe sleeve.

18. In a machine of the character described, a rotary husking devicehaving husking-t eeth arranged in series in an arc to conform to thegeneral outline of an ear, means for rotating the same, and acooperating rotary carrier the axis of which is approximately parallelto that of the husking device.

19. In a machine of the character described, a rotary husking devicecomprising a rotatable member having a series of husking-tceth arrangedin an arc to conform to the general outline of an ear, and means forrotating the same.

20. In combination with a husking device, means for rotating the same,and a yield ablysupported rotatable feeding and pressing deviceprovided. with headed pins cooperating with said husking device.

21. In a machine of the character described, a rotary carrier, a huskingdevice operatively associated therewith, means for retating said huskingdevice, and a yieldablymounted feeding and pressing device provided withheaded pins arranged to engage the ears discharged from the rotarycarrier and to force the same into operative relation to the huskingdevice.

p 2-2. In a machine of the character described, a rotary carrier, ahusking device operatively associated therewith, means for rotating saidhusking device, and a yieldablymounted feeding and pressing devicearranged to engage the ears discharged from the rotary carrier and toforce the same into operative relation with the bushing device.

23. In combination with husking instrumentalities means for, feedingears thereto,

including a rotary carrier and a cooperating.

pusher-roll, acleaner for sa1dpusher-roll', and meansoperatively.associated with said car.- rierand pusher-rollf for initially separatingthe ears fromtheir stalks.-

24. In combination with husking instrumentalities, means for feedingears thereto, including a rotary carrier and acooperatmg pushena cleanerforsaid pusher, and means operatively associated with said carrier andpusherfor initially separating the ears from their stalks.

2-5; In combination with husking instrumentalities, means for feedingears thereto including acarrierand cooperating pusherroll, a cleaner forsaid pusher-roll, and means operatlvely associated with said pusher-rolland carrier for initially separating the cars from their stalks.

26. In a machine of the character described, means for separating theears from a stalk and for presenting them end first to v the huskingmeans, means for husking one side of the ears, and other means forsubse- I quently husking the opposite side thereof.

27. In a machine of the character described, means for engaging a stalk,means for separating the ears from the stalk and for presenting them endfirst to the husking means, means for husking one side of the ears,other means for subsequently husking the opposite side thereof, andmeans whereby the cleaned corn and husks are separated.

, 28. In a machine of the character de-. scribed, means for bendingastalk toward the corn-husking means, and instrumentalities forseparating the ears from the stalk and reversing them endwise prior toany husking operation for presentation to the husking means.

29. In combination with husking instrumenta'lities, means for separatingthe cars from a stalk and for reversing said ears endwise forpresentation to said husking instrumentalities, and a carrier forpresenting the ears point firstto the husking instrumentalities.

30. In a machine of the character described, a carrier for presentingtheears point first to the husking instrumentalities, means for engagingthe stalks, means for separating the ears from the stalks and forreversing said ears, and means 0 eratively associated with the carrierfor hus ing the ears.

31. In a machine of the character described, a carrier for presentingthe ears point first to the husking instrumentalities,

- means for engaging the stalks, means for separating the ears from saidstalks, means for husking one side of the ears, and other means forsubsequently husking the opposite side thereof.

32. In a machine of the character described, a carrier for presentingthe ears point first to the husking instrumentalities,

meansfor-engagingthe stalks, meansfonsep;

. arating the ears from, the stalks. andfwhereb y,

the earsare reversed, means for huskingone' side of the ears, andothenmeans forhuskmg the opposite side thereof.

33. In a machine of the character. described, a rotary carrier, meansforseparating the cars from the stalk, and for presenting the separatedears to the carrier, husking in strumentalities in rear. of the carrier,other, husking devices in front of the carrier, and asupporting-framework for. the several parts, having a pitch orinclination in a forward direction. e

34. In a machine of the character described, a stalk-bender, means forseparating the ears from the stalk, means for husking said ears and forseparating the cleaned ears from their husks, and a'trough. mounted onthe stalk-bender and vibrated thereby arranged to receive the husks andconduct them away from the machine. 1 v

35. In a machine of the character described, husking means for operatingon one side of the ears, other husking means for op erating on theopposite side of the ears, and a carrier provided with means forengaging and positively holding the ears from turning when presented tothe first husking means.

36. In a machine of the character described, husking means for operatingon one side of the ears, other husking means for operating on theopposite side of the ears, and a carrier provided with means forengaging and positively holding the ears from turning when presented tothe first husking means, said olding means being arranged to present theears end first to the husking means.

37. In a machine of the character described, husking means for operatingon one side of the ears, other husking means for operating on theopposite side of the ears, and a carrier provided with means forengaging and positively holding the ears from turning when presented tothe first husking means, and auxiliary means for maintaining the ears intheir initial position during the travel of the carrier from one huskingmeans to the other.

38. In a machine of the character described, husking means for operatingon one side of the ears, other husking means for operating on theopposite side of the ears, and a carrier provided with means forengaging and positively holding the ears from turning when presented tothe first husking means, said holding means being arranged to presentthe ears end first t0 the husking means, and auX- 40. In a machine ofthe character described, husking means for operating on one side of theears, other husking means for operating on the opposite side of theears, and a carrier provided with means for engaging and positivelyholding the ears from turning when resented to the first husking means,said olding means being arranged to present the ears end first to thehusking means, and auxiliary means for maintaining the ears in theirinitial position during the travel of the carrier from one husking meansto the other, including rotatable pressure devices above the carrier andbetween which and the carrier the ears pass.

41. In a machine 01 the character described, husking means for operatingon one side of the ears, other husking means for op- I erating on theopposite side of the ears, and a carrier rovided with means for engagingand positiveily holding the ears from turning when presented to thefirst husking means, and auxiliary means for maintaining the ears intheir initial position during the travel of the carrier from one huskingmeans to the other, including gravity pressure devices above the carrierand between which and the carrier the ears pass.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

IRVING J. BALL. Witnesses:

W. E. TRAVIS, S. VANDEVORT.

